Observed a single light column absolutely vertical, begining about 3000 to 5000 feet above ground and into thin clouds up to estimated altitude of 10000 feet. It looked like a spotlight from the ground but did not move.

Three aircrew observed it for another five minutes, and then additional beams appeared until five were seen. The first beam was the brightest.

All observations were through night vision goggles and could not be seen with unaided vision.

The cloud layers were reported as 25000 broken.

The first beam varied in intensity and at times emitted a brighter glow from the middle.

The beams never moved, just faded out some but the first brighter beam remained until our line of flight placed the sightings behind the aircraft.